City of Alhambra

PUBLIC OPINIONS ON SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR AREA POLICIES

There is Strong Support for Smoke-Free Outdoor Areas
Many cities and counties in California are working to protect their residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure by passing ordinances that limit smoking in outdoor areas, especially in places where people congregate. 75.8% of Californians agree that outdoor dining areas should be smoke-free; 74.9% of Californians agree that smoking should not be allowed in outdoor entertainment settings. Californians visit parks, attend public events, dine outdoors, and use service areas such as ATM lines and bus stops only to find themselves and their children exposed to toxic SHS and cigarette litter.
Characteristics of the Survey
This report is based on data collected from residents of Alhambra between August 2011 and November 2011. 498 Alhambra residents completed the survey, whose age distribution represents the general Alhambra population. Also, the survey respondents were of varied sex, racial/ ethnic groups, and tobacco use status. 5.7% of the respondents were current tobacco users and 94.3% were non-tobacco users. Please keep in mind that this is not a scientific survey, hence findings may not be representative of all Alhambra residents.

Secondhand Smoke is Dangerous

The dangers of SHS are well documented, especially for children and adults with respiratory disease, pregnant women and the elderly. The California Air Resources Board has put SHS in the same category as the most toxic automotive and industrial air pollutants by categorizing it as a toxic air contaminant. A recent study concluded that the levels of exposure to SHS outdoors can be comparable to SHS smoke exposure indoors.

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Outdoor Areas

100% 80% 60%
94.2%

Cigarette Litter is Harmful

79.5% of respondents said tobacco litter is a problem. Discarded cigarette butts can take up to 10 years to disintegrate. Cigarette litter damages the environment and poses a hazard to children, pets and wildlife that may pick up or swallow these cigarette butts. Recreation areas suffer from cigarette trash but also from the risk of fire. In May 2007, a fire started by a discarded cigarette butt in Griffith Park in Los Angeles burned over 800 acres of land.

40% 20% 0%
Yes 4.0% No

Belief that Secondhand Smoke is Harmful to Your Health

Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Outdoor Areas

94.2% of respondents have been exposed to SHS in outdoor areas. 98.1% of respondents believe that SHS is harmful to their health. Due to the exposure to SHS in outdoor areas, 85.4% of respondents moved to another
100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%
Yes No 1.9% 98.1%

location, 32.3% asked the smoker to move away, 57.3% left earlier than planned, and 37.4% asked the smoker to stop smoking.

For more information, contact Steven Gallegos of Glendale Adventist Medical Center at (323) 255-9030 ext. 27 or gallegsj@ah.org. This material was made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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City of Alhambra
PUBLIC OPINIONS ON SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR AREA POLICIES
Support for Smoke-Free Outdoor Areas
Among different outdoor areas, 78.9% of respondents said service areas should be smoke-free, 88.0% said the areas

around doorways and windows should be smoke-free, and 89.8% said that public events should be smoke-free. More than 90% of the respondents would favor a law that would ban smoking on dining patios (93.8%) and in public parks (90.7%).
71.2% of respondents would feel more comfortable asking someone to stop smoking in an outdoor area if it were illegal. 84.8% of respondents would dine outdoors more often if it was smoke-free. 50.0% of current smokers and 87.6% of non-

smokers would dine outdoors more often if it was smoke-free.

PublicSupportforSmokeFreePoliciesInOutdoorAreas
100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%
PublicParks DiningPatios Doorways& ServiceAreas GolfCourses PublicEvents Windows Sidewalks Construction Sites

90.7%

93.8% 88.0% 78.9%

89.8% 72.3% 66.1% 62.8%

For more information, contact Steven Gallegos of Glendale Adventist Medical Center at (323) 255-9030 ext. 27 or gallegsj@ah.org. This material was made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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